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Facility management too often is the aspect of managing non-profits that goes overlooked by organizations. Because non-profits are so mission-driven, those in charge of managing non-profits have a tendency to prioritize budget going towards their direct program and proper facility management (which includes upkeep of built environment, sustainability practices, technologies used, and management of human factors) can fall by the wayside.

However, it’s never too late for facility management to be properly integrated into a non-profit. For those who are managing non-profits but don’t know the first place to start when it comes to facility management, a vast set of tools and strategies are out there ready to use and catch their organizations up. Facility management can be the responsibility of just one person in the non-profit who acts as the full-time facilities manager, or the responsibilities can be divvied up and shared among different members of the staff. Regardless of which approach is the most appropriate for your non-profit, the following tools and strategies can apply:

1. Audit of existing facilities

The first strategy any non-profit needs to employ if they are just starting their facility management process, regardless of size, is to audit the current situation. Complete an assessment of the building, from the envelope to the interior to the electrical systems and plumbing and everything else. Such an audit will provide a baseline with which improvements can be compared and provides an overview of what aspects of the facility are top priorities for renovation, repair, and upgrades.

2. Facility maintenance manual

Once managing non-profits and their associated facilities is off the ground, it’s time to document the knowledge learned and processes undergone. As soon as the first audit is complete and moving forward in perpetuity, all information should be included in a facility maintenance manual. The creation of such a document will ensure all the valuable information is in one place and can be passed from one person to the next as new people are brought into the facility management process over the years.

3. Prioritize upgrades

As noted during the initial audit, an important strategy for facility management (especially in the time- and budget-sensitive environments of managing non-profits) is to prioritize the facility upgrades that are made. The first and strongest focus should be placed on the most efficient upgrades (those that will deliver the greatest results for the least investment, such as energy-efficiency upgrades) and the most pressing work (those that must be completed in order to ensure safe and continuous business operations, such as emergency preparedness measures).

4. Software tools

A number of software-based tools exist to enable and help with facility management for nonprofits. These software-based solutions, such as Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMSS) software, help to streamline the process (saving time and money), elucidate new opportunities for process improvements, and put in one place long-term planning abilities.

5. Facility management training

For people who want to learn more, many facility management courses and certifications exist, from training in leadership in and management of core facilities to certificate programs in nonprofit facility management. Invest some time into researching which of these programs would be most relevant to your work to ensure you’ll learn the most valuable and applicable strategies.

6. Outsourcing facility management

Never shy away from outsourcing the facility management of your non-profit to third parties who are best suited to stretch your budget, bring a vast wealth of knowledge, and can work specifically to your needs. When you engage with the appropriate contractors and outside consultants, the facility management projects can be properly and expertly executed for the most affordable price and highest quality of final work. The advantages of this type of outsourcing are plenty, such as freeing the non-profit organization back up to focus on the organization’s mission, enabling the use of people whose expertise is best suited, and ensure time and money is not wasted on a learning curve.

Outsourcing facility management jobs is beneficial to your business. When managed properly, your organization will see a change in the culture, decreased expenses, and a better customer experience as a result. Contact The Entech Group today to help manage your next project.

Non-profit organizations are known first and foremost for the work they do for their missions. Whether that mission is to advocate for an important cause, provide resources to disadvantaged communities, spread their message, or something else, these missions are what drive the non-profit sector. As such, everyone associated with the non-profit organizations, from employees to donors to partner organizations, tend to be most focused on the key priorities such as the planning and execution of programs, fundraising efforts, marketing and communications, and more. However, properly facility management may easily get overlooked. Managing the facilities associated with non-profits may not be the highest profile part of the organizations, but facility management really does provide the lifeblood of a non-profit’s day-to-day operations.

What is facility management?

Facility management is an important aspect of running any organization, whether non-profit or not. However non-profits typically have budgets that are stretched and seek to put the maximum amount of funds towards missions. This means that proper facility management strategy is even more critical as it can free up resources to be applied directly to the mission. But what exactly does facility management encompass?

Broadly speaking, facility management includes varied tasks that all work towards ensuring the functionality and upkeep of support services for organizations within buildings and the built environment. Examples of tasks within facility management include, but are not limited to, the following:

Investing in and maintaining facilities

Renovating facilities to optimize output while minimizing impact on program operation

Ensuring adequate and operational communication systems

Minimizing risks to safety and ensuring continuous business operations

Upkeep of existing and necessary upgrades to technology used

Benefits of proper facility management

Not every non-profit organization prioritizes facility management as they should, because again they are often concerned with ensuring that the maximum amount of their funding is dedicated to their mission. However, by overlooking some rather straight-forward facility management practices, such non-profit organizations could be overlooking some key benefits, including the following:

Proper facility management enables non-profit organizations to embrace green and sustainable practices, which has long-term effects like decreasing electricity costs, increased health of building occupants, and a more positive image within an organization’s community.

Facility management is in charge of minimizing risk of, and planning in the unfortunate event of emergencies, such as fires, floods, and others. By having facility management on top of these important topics, employees and partners will be kept safe, an ideal on which you really cannot put a price.

Facility management practices that are established ahead of time and on an ongoing basis also provide assistance in analyzing aspects of the business like the terms of a lease, if applicable, and showing management where current facilities maybe fall short and where there may be advantages to looking elsewhere for new facilities.

How a facility is managed is simply a reflection of the non-profit organization as a whole. Facility management is a sign of how on top of everything the management of the non-profit are and how smoothly the ship is run. Whether it be potential donors, future employees, prospective business partners, or otherwise, the first impression people are likely to have with a non-profit organization is the site location itself. Having facilities that are well kept and are clearly modern, safe, and organized can go a long way towards establishing trust and legitimacy and encouraging new partnerships.

Non-profit organizations are known first and foremost for the work they do for their missions. Whether that mission is to advocate for an important cause, provide resources to disadvantaged communities, spread their message, or something else, these missions are what drive the non-profit sector. As such, everyone associated with the non-profit organizations, from employees to donors to partner organizations, tend to be most focused on the key priorities such as the planning and execution of programs, fundraising efforts, marketing and communications, and more. However, properly facility management may easily get overlooked. Managing the facilities associated with non-profits may not be the highest profile part of the organizations, but facility management really does provide the lifeblood of a non-profit’s day-to-day operations.

What is facility management?

Facility management is an important aspect of running any organization, whether non-profit or not. However non-profits typically have budgets that are stretched and seek to put the maximum amount of funds towards missions. This means that proper facility management strategy is even more critical as it can free up resources to be applied directly to the mission. But what exactly does facility management encompass?

Broadly speaking, facility management includes varied tasks that all work towards ensuring the functionality and upkeep of support services for organizations within buildings and the built environment. Examples of tasks within facility management include, but are not limited to, the following:

Investing in and maintaining facilities

Renovating facilities to optimize output while minimizing impact on program operation

Ensuring adequate and operational communication systems

Minimizing risks to safety and ensuring continuous business operations

Upkeep of existing and necessary upgrades to technology used

Benefits of proper facility management

Not every non-profit organization prioritizes facility management as they should, because again they are often concerned with ensuring that the maximum amount of their funding is dedicated to their mission. However, by overlooking some rather straight-forward facility management practices, such non-profit organizations could be overlooking some key benefits, including the following:

Proper facility management enables non-profit organizations to embrace green and sustainable practices, which has long-term effects like decreasing electricity costs, increased health of building occupants, and a more positive image within an organization’s community.

Facility management is in charge of minimizing risk of, and planning in the unfortunate event of emergencies, such as fires, floods, and others. By having facility management on top of these important topics, employees and partners will be kept safe, an ideal on which you really cannot put a price.

Facility management practices that are established ahead of time and on an ongoing basis also provide assistance in analyzing aspects of the business like the terms of a lease, if applicable, and showing management where current facilities maybe fall short and where there may be advantages to looking elsewhere for new facilities.

How a facility is managed is simply a reflection of the non-profit organization as a whole. Facility management is a sign of how on top of everything the management of the non-profit are and how smoothly the ship is run. Whether it be potential donors, future employees, prospective business partners, or otherwise, the first impression people are likely to have with a non-profit organization is the site location itself. Having facilities that are well kept and are clearly modern, safe, and organized can go a long way towards establishing trust and legitimacy and encouraging new partnerships.

How to reap these rewards of premier facility management

As mentioned earlier, the benefits of top notch facility management are even more critical for non-profit organizations due to the structure of their finances. Such is even more the case for small and medium sized non-profits who do not have massive staffs or operating budgets with which to work. Staying on top of facility management as a regular aspect of business (as opposed to leaving it for when the need for it, or even an emergency, comes up) helps non-profits to minimize risk, strengthen their mission, and stretch how far limiting operating budgets, work forces, and resources can go.

Many different facility management strategies can help for those who are not already implementing the best practices – from hiring an employee specific to the purpose, adding facility management software, or even taking classes on what can be done. One of the most effective ways to reap the rewards of facility management, though, is to bring in a third-party resource who has the experience, expertise, and know-how to get you on the right track with facility management. Whether that third-party is brought in for a one-time audit or on an ongoing basis, working with an expert in the facility management field will enable your non-profit to improve its day-to-day operations and further strengthen mission-related work in the most effective manner.

As one of those experts in the facility management field, the Entech Group can help you to make the most out of your non-profit’s limited budget and gain the most significant rewards that are right at your fingertips. Contact the Entech Group today to discuss your facility management needs.

As mentioned earlier, the benefits of top notch facility management are even more critical for non-profit organizations due to the structure of their finances. Such is even more the case for small and medium sized non-profits who do not have massive staffs or operating budgets with which to work. Staying on top of facility management as a regular aspect of business (as opposed to leaving it for when the need for it, or even an emergency, comes up) helps non-profits to minimize risk, strengthen their mission, and stretch how far limiting operating budgets, work forces, and resources can go.

Many different facility management strategies can help for those who are not already implementing the best practices – from hiring an employee specific to the purpose, adding facility management software, or even taking classes on what can be done. One of the most effective ways to reap the rewards of facility management, though, is to bring in a third-party resource who has the experience, expertise, and know-how to get you on the right track with facility management. Whether that third-party is brought in for a one-time audit or on an ongoing basis, working with an expert in the facility management field will enable your non-profit to improve its day-to-day operations and further strengthen mission-related work in the most effective manner.

As one of those experts in the facility management field, the Entech Group can help you to make the most out of your non-profit’s limited budget and gain the most significant rewards that are right at your fingertips. Contact the Entech Group today to discuss your facility management needs.

How illegal dumping has contaminated the state’s soil and how to address it

Across New Jersey, property owners have been entangled in issues regarding illegal dumping that have posed environmental and public health risks. Specifically, dump trucks have been caught red-handed dumping soil that has been contaminated with unknown chemicals, such as from gas stations, and illegally dumping them in residential areas, public land, and more.

History of the problem

For over four years, local governments and concerned citizens have brought the issues of illegal dumping operations to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The history of this problem is well-established, with convictions already brought upon persons who were found to have violated a mandate to stop work after illegal soil contamination was found. However, as is all too often the case, the government agencies responsible for these issues have been slow to act. Residents of townships continued to report seeing dump trucks entering and exiting some of the areas in question, but until recently the DEP held firm that there were no violations. This conclusion was of particular frustration to the townships because the inspectors sent by the DEP are alleged to have not done a full-scale investigation that the issue deserved, even once an inspector never even getting out of the car. However through persistence of citizens and public media attention, the DEP is now officially investigating the matter.

What is to be done about the problem

Government officials are still investigating the matter, and no specific progress is being addressed publicly. Beyond the next steps of activists, which is bringing the concerns above the DEP and to the office of the Governor, property owners cannot wait for government intervention and need to address contaminated soil on their land.

The immediate action needed is for trained professionals to go to the contaminated sites to take soil samples. In doing so, experts can test the dirt and determine the scope of the problem—what contaminants are in the illegally dumped soil, how much of it, what sort of threat it poses to the public, and how to best clean it up. The contaminated soil can be harmful to local wildlife, damaging to vegetation, and ultimately could post a public health risk, underscoring the immediate need for boots on the ground to test the soil in question and determine the next steps. But without immediate investigation, there’s no telling the extent of the issue nor the best course of action.

Our Team

With over 25 years of experience as Environmental Consultants, you can trust in the Entech Group in addressing your needs in response to illegal dumping, from soil sampling to investigating illegally dumped materials to ultimate cleanup. Our team members have the qualifications to complete your environmental engineering jobs the right way.

Get in Touch

Our competitive turn-key solutions and environmental consulting services will assist your business to obtain its desired results in the most efficient and professional manner. Call us today for a consultation at 800-571-8661.